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Dental Checkups

We believe regular dental checkups are important so that your dentist can adopt a preventative approach through advice, monitoring and maintenance.

Preventative dentistry

Prevention is better than cure and you will be given regular oral health advice. You may also be referred to our Dental Hygienist if this would be beneficial to you. If any problems are identified at your check-up, solutions will be proposed and discussed. Often if problems are identified early enough, toothache can be avoided, the treatment is simpler and is also less expensive to carry out.

Your dentist will suggest when you should have your next check-up based on how good your oral health is. The time between check-ups can vary from three months to two years depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are and the risk of future problems you may have. Usually dental check-ups are every six months for most people.

Your 13 point dental health check

Here at Far Headingley Dental Care in Leeds, our Dental Check-Ups are provided through our patient friendly 13 point dental health check:

1 Discussion – oral health

How healthy do your teeth and gums feel to you? Do you have any concerns about the functionality of your teeth? We will ask you to identify any symptoms such as sensitivity, toothache or simply if something doesn’t feel or look right to you. Your answers will help us develop a personal Dental Assessment Framework.

2 Discussion – medical history

You will be asked to complete a simple Medical History Questionnaire the first time you visit. This is important as there are many medical conditions and medications taken that can affect your oral health and the provision of any dental treatment. At each subsequent visit your medical history will be checked and any changes updated.

3 Discussion – lifestyle

Lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, diet and stress can also affect your dental health. We discuss a number of these lifestyle factors with you and how they affect your mouth and dental health and give you any relevant advice.

4 Discussion – appearance

Is there anything that you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth?
This might be as simple as staining or discolorations or more complex such as missing, broken or crooked teeth. We will discuss options with you to improve the appearance of your teeth.

5 Progress check

We monitor the progress from one dental check up to the next and recommend regular Oral Health Assessments so that we can evaluate and discuss any changes in your mouth with you.

6 Dental health check

This is a physical examination where we look at all your teeth individually and assess how healthy each tooth is. We note any teeth that appear unhealthy and then investigate further. We may use digital intra-oral cameras and show the images on our chairside monitors so that you too can see around your mouth.

7 Dental Restorations Check

This is a separate check where we assess the health, stability and durability of any previous dental restorations (fillings, crowns, implants, veneers etc).

8 Gum health check

This is a BPE or Basic Periodontal Examination where we gently probe the gums and visually inspect to determine the health of your gums. We give feedback and we discuss all our findings with you and explain what you can do at home to keep your gums in optimum condition. We may discuss the benefits of seeing a Dental Hygienist at this stage if we feel this would be beneficial.

9 Plaque & tartar check

The presence of plaque and tartar is an indication of poor dental health and may lead to tooth decay and gum disease. We point out soft plaque deposits on your teeth as well as hard tartar and discuss ways to eliminate them with you.

10 Oral cancer check

This check comprises of an extensive head and neck examination as well as looking inside your mouth. We feel under your chin, around your neck and shoulders for lumps, bumps and any asymmetries. A careful visual inspection of all your soft tissues within the mouth is carried out and includes looking at your tongue, lips, cheeks, hard and soft palate, the floor of your mouth, gums and skin for any issues. We then give you full feedback and will discuss any findings and any necessary action required with you.

11 Jaw and bone assessment (TMJ)

We check the movement of your jaw and the opening of your mouth and record any deviations from what we would expect and investigate accordingly.

12 Bite assessment

Here we look at the way you bring your teeth together and signs of unusual wear on your teeth i.e. due to grinding, clenching or habits such as nail-biting and we discuss our findings with you.

13 The health of hidden areas

We take radiographs (x-rays) to check the health of areas inside, around and between your teeth, and to check the health of your bone levels. Radiographs help us identify if decay (caries) is present which we cannot always spot by just looking in the mouth, for example between teeth, and under crowns or fillings. We look at past radiographs so we can compare them and discuss our findings with you. We have chair mounted monitors to help display x-rays so that we can easily show you the results.

After your check-up, your dentist will recommend a date for your next visit. Generally, the lower your risk of dental problems, the longer you can wait before your next check-up.

FAQ’s

How do I make an appointment?

To make an appointment for your dental check-up please simply book online, call the practice on 0113 275 1323 or use the contact form. The contact form is especially useful when making contact with FHDC out of hours as we can call you back when we reopen.

How much do Dental Check-Ups Cost?

For our current prices please refer to our fee guide. You can spread the cost of your dental check-ups with FHDC Care and Essentials Plans.

Why may I need Dental X-rays at my Check-Up?

Dental Radiographs are commonly called x-rays. Dentists use x-rays  to find hidden dental structures, malignant or benign masses, bone loss, and cavities inside the teeth that cannot be seen with naked eye or with intra-oral cameras. At Far Headingley Dental Care we use digital x-rays so that your dentist can explain to you what they see on our chair side monitors

Get in touch

To discuss how Far Headingley dental care can provide you with excellent General Dentistry through regular dental check-ups, please complete the enquiry form on this page or call our practice on 0113 275 1323 during normal office hours.

To register as a new patient click here

British Association of Private Dentists

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